Chief Secretary Ms Vini Mahajan here today chaired a virtual meeting of State HealthResponse and Procurement Committee of the Department of Health, MedicalEducation and School Education.
Duringthe meeting she reviewed and discussed with experts, the possible steps toeffectively tackle the spread during second wave.
Dr.Mandeep Bhandari, Joint Secretary to Government of India, who had recentlyvisited Punjab as head of the Central team along with Dr Lakshmi from PGIMERshared their observations that the COVID spread in Punjab is not just specificto schools alone as other places are also affected and the primary reason forsurge in cases in the state is because people are not following COVIDAppropriate Behaviors and not religously abiding the COVID safety protocols.
PrincipalSecretary Medical Education Sh DK Tewari informed that in Medical Colleges,students are getting tested every 15 days and no positivity has been found yet.He further confirmed that all Government Labs are functional for RTPCR testingwith a combined capacity of more than 30000 tests per day.
ChiefSecretary directed the Health and Medical Education Departments to strengthentheir treatment facilities to deal with second wave and fill their remainingvacancies on priority.
Ms.Vini Mahjan said that the Government is keeping a close watch and dependingupon the situation, the decision to reduce occupancy or closure of restaurants,.malls and cinema houses will be taken in coming days.
PrincipalSecretary Health and Family Welfare, Sh Hussan Lal stated that the number ofvaccination sites would be extended to District Hospitals, Sub divisional Hospitals and Community HealthCentred to facilitate vaccination of eligible general population.
Prof.KK Talwar, Chairman Advisory Group (Health & Medical Education) PunjabGovernment, Sh Kumar Rahul, Secretary Health & MD NHM Punjab, Sh AmitKumar, Special Secretary Health, Punjab, Dr GB Singh, Director Health ServicesPunjab and Prof. Rajesh Kumar Executive Director SHSRC, Punjab were among theother prominant officers who attended the meeting.